October 26, 2016 AT 1:00 am

How to Get Attention With These Crazy Emoji LEDs #WearableWednesday @medialab #Wearabletech #emoji

Researchers from the Fluid Interfaces group at MIT MediaLab recently launched a new wearable that uses LEDs programmed to capitalize on POV (persistence of vision) to create emojis according to Motherboard. Although most people have been using LEDs in this way for entertainment, the team was interested in using POV emojis as a method of communication or HCI (Human Computer Interaction). Strip LEDs are held in place through velcro and extend to the hand where they are waved to create a message.

Named Fluxa, the hardware used includes an APA 102 LED strip, an ATmega 328, a BLE module, a 9 DOF sensor and EEPROM. A mobile app has also been developed to program different animations and communicate with the device. Possible uses include signaling to people at night, warnings, education, superimposing messages on objects and visualizing biological signals. For more details on this fun form of communications, check out the Fluxa white paper. Next up for the team is looking at group and game use, which should be interesting. Do you want to start your own POV movement? Check out our learning guide for our MiniPOV4 Kit. It’s a small package of LED goodness ready to swipe messages in the air. Want an armband for the kit? Take a look at our guide that shows how to 3D print one. Then you can carry your POV device around without the fear of dropping it or flinging it at someone. MiniPOV4 is great for concerts, car breakdowns and strange encounters in the desert, so light up the world.